Dubai: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has unveiled a video showing the driverless electric shuttle named the EZ10 in action.
In a video posted to social media, the Smart Autonomous Vehicle can be seen ferrying passengers through Dubai, part of a plan to test driverless technology and achieve 25% driverless transportation by 2030.
Driverless Vehicle.. Accelerating #Dubai into the future@RTA_Dubai pic.twitter.com/x3TAh6METk
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 22, 2017
“Technology is not for the advancement of machines, it’s for the progression of people,” says the video as it shows off the hi-tech EZ10, the first vehicle of its kind in the region.
The driverless electric shuttle features 360 sensors and is designed to cover short distances along pre-defined routes, but with a long-term vision.
The video also showcases the RTA’s planned timeline for driverless transportation in Dubai, starting with driverless metro cars, and moving on to driverless busies in allocated tracks on the city level, driverless taxis on allocated tracks on the city level, and finally driverless transport in the first and last mile by 2030.
The Smart Autonomous Vehicle, which had recently been on an experimental two-month run in the Business Bay district in cooperation with Dubai Properties, has claimed an overall satisfaction rating of 91%, the Dubai Media Office said in a statement on Saturday.
The result is concluded in a survey covering 736 users aged 20-40 as part of RTA’s endeavours to achieve the Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy.
Ahmad Hashem Bahrozyan, CEO of Licensing Agency and Chairperson of RTA Smart Vehicles Committee, said: “Roads & Transport Authority, in cooperation with Dubai Properties, has conducted a test run of the autonomous vehicle in the Business Bay, having proven successful in Dubai World Trade Center and Mohammad Bin Rashid Boulevard.
"The overall satisfaction rating of users has hit 91% according to a survey covering 736 users. The satisfaction rating of vehicle safety specifications reached 92%, while 91% were interested in providing autonomous vehicles as a means of public transport. 80% of respondents expected that the technology would improve traffic safety and reduce road accidents, while 82% expected the technology would ease traffic congestion, and 90% expected the technology to result in less fuel consumption.
“During the trial run, the driverless vehicles has been used in the Business Bay by as many as 1,700 riders comprising public transport users and private vehicle owners.
"The RTA is considering to broaden the use of the autonomous vehicle elsewhere in Dubai emirate including metro stations, malls and tourist attractions. Meanwhile, the RTA is drafting regulations and legislations governing the smart transport strategy in the emirate to come out with a clear legal framework that regulates the usage of self-driving vehicles in first and last miles, central areas, commercial complexes, residential areas and parks,” said Bahrozyan.
The smart vehicle is 100% eco-friendly as it runs on electrically powered engines with an eight-hour battery life. The smart vehicle can accommodate up to 10 passengers (6 sitting and 4 standing) and can travel at a speed of 10km/h.
